The system is definitely mechanically complicated, but it is fairly straightforward and simple in use. You can feel that the position of the bezel as you move it thanks to very pleasantly engineered detents in every one of the setting positions, and the entire system isn’t only satisfying to use, but a great deal of fun as well, and unlike anything you will find from another brand. Setting up the watch was quite straightforward, and, like I’ve mentioned, fun too. As I expected, in steel and white gold the Sky-Dweller feels very different from the blunt opulence of the Everose version, and as it is lighter than the white gold variant, it surely seems less ostentatious. I really don’t know that the Sky-Dweller would feel particularly functional even in steel-only (although I think that it could be great to have a metal version of the opinion) as it is too large, and also brightly polished to ever project the tool-watch bluntness of some other Rolex sports models, but you don’t feel like mogul’d up as you would with something in yellow gold or Everose. And of course, the steel and white gold version is almost entirely steel anyway.Putting about the Rolesor edition of this Sky-Dweller has been a really different experience from putting on the Everose variation I wore for our last Week On The Wrist with this particular model. The Rolesor version on a costume, thanks to its normally less extroverted character, feels like me, and can, I suspect, feel to anybody who travels mostly for business rather than pleasure, much lower key; it is a much less a status-in-the-lounge and a standing-in-line-at-a-security-checkpoint kind of watch (and I mean that in a fantastic way).

The machine is undoubtedly mechanically complicated, but it is quite straightforward and easy in use. It’s possible to truly feel the job of the bezel as you move it thanks to very pleasantly engineered detents in every one of the setting positions, and the whole system isn’t only satisfying to use, but a great deal of fun also, and certainly unlike anything you will discover from another brand. Setting up the watch was quite straightforward, and, as I’ve said, fun too. As I expected, in steel and white gold the Sky-Dweller feels quite different from the frank opulence of this Everose model, and as it’s lighter than the white gold version, it definitely appears less ostentatious. I don’t understand that the Sky-Dweller would feel particularly functional even in steel-only (although I think it would be good to have a metal version of the watch) as it is too large, and too brightly polished to ever project the tool-watch bluntness of some other Rolex sports models, but you do not feel as mogul’d upward as you want something in yellow gold or Everose. And needless to say, the steel and white gold version is virtually entirely steel anyway.Putting on the Rolesor edition of this Sky-Dweller has been a very different experience from putting on the Everose version I wore for our last Week On Your Wrist with this model. The Rolesor variation on a bracelet, thanks to its normally less extroverted character, feels like me, and will, I guess, feel to anybody who travels primarily for business rather than pleasure, a lot lower secret; it’s a much less a status-in-the-lounge and more a standing-in-line-at-a-security-checkpoint sort of opinion (and I mean that in a good way).

The Sky-Dweller has always had a somewhat contradictory character. It’s the most complex watch Rolex makes (in terms of mechanical complexity, it’s only rivaled by the Yacht-Master II) and if it had been released in 2012, it was only available in precious metals. At the exact same time, it is clearly intended to be an extremely practical watch — lasting, easy to use, and easy to live with, even under the strain of navigating the world’s more unfriendly skies. But in 2017, Rolex introduced two Rolesor versions of this Sky-Dweller (Rolesor is your company’s term for its combinations of steel with yellow or white gold) which instantly made this most practical of complex watches, immediately more accessible. (Jay-Z has been frequently spotted wearing a yellowish golden Sky-Dweller, for example.) Though we have done A Week On The Wrist with a Sky-Dweller earlier, that was an Everose version on a strap and using the more recent, less overtly luxurious models out, we thought this could be a good time to revisit that the Sky-Dweller. The new version in steel, using a white gold bezel, is currently the most inexpensive model, at less than half of the price of the metal versions, and that’s the one we selected for our newest A Week On The Wrist.The Sky-Dweller is a combination of just two complications: a dual-time zone, or even GMT complication, and an yearly calendar. The former is easy to comprehend: the watch displays time in 2 time zones and has an hour that can be independently set, forwards or backwards, in one-hour jumps.

The latter is a characteristic of “true” GMT watches, as is the fact that the hour hand is put in the crown and can be re-set into a new timezone without stopping the entire watch. There are more straightforward dual time zone watches, which have a 24 hour hand that could be independently placed, but to utilize them as a traveller’s watch — which is, to exhibit local time with the hour and minute hands, and time together with the 24 hour — normally requires quite a little more fiddling with the crown and also involves stopping the eye whilst re-setting the hour and second hands, thereby requiring the consumer to also re-set to a time standard.The yearly calendar is the next complication found in the Sky-Dweller, and can also be relatively simple. The Gregorian calendar has times of varying length — a few months have 31 days, and many others have just 30. Most importantly, February is the oddest man out, and depending on whether it’s a Leap Year, can be either 28 or 29 days in length (29 in a Leap Year). A perpetual calendar watch automatically jumps to the first on the right day at the close of the month, whatever the month (so, for instance, on February 28th at a non-Leap Year, also on February 29th at a Leap Year, the date will, at midnight, advance to March 1st). Thus, a perpetual calendar never wants to have the date corrected manually. An yearly calendar, on the other hand, “understands” (so to speak) if it is a 30 or 31 day month but it does not understand to jump to March 1 on February 28th or 29th. Therefore, an annual calendar needs to have the date re-set annually. Needless to say, a typical calendar watch has to have the date progressed manually five times a year — once for each 30 day month, and once at the end of February.The yearly calendar has some substantial benefits over the perpetual, although some of them have been eroded in the last few decades by advances in perpetual calendar layout.

The latter is a characteristic of “authentic” GMT watches, as is how the hour is put from the crown and may be re-set into a new timezone without stopping the entire watch. There are more straightforward dual time zone watches, which have a 24 hour hand that could be individually set, but to utilize them as a traveler’s watch — which is, to display local time with the hour and minute hands, and time with the 24 hour hand — generally requires quite a bit more fiddling with the crown and entails stopping the watch whilst re-setting the hour and minute hands, thus requiring the consumer to also re-set to a time standard.The yearly calendar is the second complication found in the Sky-Dweller, and can also be relatively simple. The Gregorian calendar has days of varying length — a few months have 31 days, and many others have just 30. Most notably, February is the strangest guy out, and depending on whether or not it is a Leap Year, can be either 28 or 29 days in length (29 in a Leap Year). A perpetual calendar watch automatically jumps to the first on the correct day in the close of the month, no matter the month (so, for instance, on February 28th in a non-Leap calendar year, also on February 29th at a Leap Year, the date will, at midnight, advance to March 1st). Therefore a perpetual calendar never wants to get the date adjusted manually. Therefore, an yearly calendar needs to have the date re-set once a year. Needless to say, a standard calendar watch has to have the date progressed manually five times a year — once for each 30 day month, and after at the end of February.The yearly calendar has some significant benefits over the endless, even though some of these have been eroded in the past few decades by improvements in perpetual calendar design.

The date could be read by checking the windows above the hour mark; since there are 12 months in a year, it is simple to tell what month it is from the position of the red month marker. From the watch pictured, the 12th month — December — is indicated by the place of the reddish month marker at 12:00. Reading home time is straightforward as well; it’s display by the rotating 24 hour ring which sits at the lower 2/3 of the dial (the triangle at 12:00 suggests that the hour). This has the advantage of showing whether it’s AM or PM at home. The yearly calendar is linked to local time, which is shown by the hour, so the date shown (assuming you have set the time correctly forwards or backwards to your new time zone) will be right for your regional time zone.The overall fit and finish of the dial and case, by the way, is very good; even under magnification the dial markers, numbers and hands are all crisply defined, with irreproachable focus on detail. Rolex’s situation and dial work is as uniformly excellent throughout its product lines as anything at the industry and what is equally as significant, this excellence is constant from watch to watch, and contributes considerably to the favorable impression Rolex watches generally seem to make. I’m always struck with this whenever I manage one for inspection even with Rolex versions I wouldn’t necessarily wear on a daily basis myself, for reasons of flavor or practicality or cost, the overall sense of exceptional build quality one has is extremely high, in the humblest Oyster Perpetual to the most opulent Day-Date. One of the most vital ways in which any luxury brand are able to keep faith with its clients is in paying just as much attention to the specifics in its least expensive goods as in its expensive, and Rolex is one of the very few watch businesses I’ve written about over time, for it has always seemed to be authentic.

Movement, selfwinding Rolex caliber 9001, bidirectional winding with 72 hour power reserve. Paraflex shock system with Parachrom balance spring; overcoil with free-sprung adjustable mass balance under a flexible balance bridge. Chronometer certified by the COSC; maximum deviation in daily pace, -2/+2 seconds per day. Ring Control bezel for choosing function of the crown in its second position; annual calendar with indication of the time in 2 time zones.For years, the Sky-Dweller has been one of the most interesting and least understood modern Rolexes. It is among the most complex watches in their lineup, as a luxurious gentleman’s watch, also is your patrician elder god of this tool-like GMT-Master II. This market proposal, along with its solid gold offering, always made it something of an outsider Rolex. Until now.In some ways the event of this Sky-Dweller remains identical to the version released in 2012, however, seen another way, the alterations to the large 42mm case represent the single most significant shift to the model, which has seen it rocket to the top of many a fan’s record. It’s all about the material. For its first five years of its life, the Sky-Dweller existed just in valuable metals: white, yellow or Everose gold. Not only did this put the watch into a top price bracket, but it was also every inch that the good gold Rolex — so with that big, fluted bezel. However, as Baselworld 2017 gathered around and the Rolesor Sky-Dwellers were unveiled, the proposition suddenly changed. Fifty grand and suddenly came down to around twenty, bringing the Sky-Dweller within range of a whole lot more people. Rolex released two Rolesor variations — yellow gold with a precious bezel and centre bracelet links, or a white golden alternative where the bezel is made from the precious metal.

The latter is a characteristic of “authentic” GMT watches, as is the fact that the hour hand is put in the crown and can be re-set into a new timezone without stopping the entire watch. There are more straightforward dual time zone watches, which have a 24 hour hand that can be individually placed, but to utilize them as a traveler’s view — that is, to display local time with the hour and minute hands, and time with the 24 hour — generally requires quite a bit more fiddling with the crown and also involves stopping the eye while re-setting the hour and second hands, thereby requiring the consumer to also re-set to some time standard.The annual calendar is the second complication located in the Sky-Dweller, and can also be relatively straightforward. The Gregorian calendar has times of varying length — some months have 31 days, and many others have just 30. Thus, a perpetual calendar never needs to get the date corrected manually. An annual calendar, on the other hand, “knows” (so to speak) if it is a 30 or 31 day month but it does not know to leap into March 1 on February 28th or 29th. Thus, an yearly calendar ought to have the date re-set once a year. Needless to say, a standard calendar watch should have the date advanced manually five times a year — once for every 30 day month, and once at the conclusion of February.The annual calendar has some substantial advantages over the endless, although some of these have been eroded in the last couple of decades by advances in perpetual calendar layout.

Relative to perpetual calendars, annual calendars are generally automatically less complex, as well as less inclined to be damaged by mishandling on the portion of their owners. Interestingly, the annual calendar is a very recent innovation in wristwatches — it was only in 1996 that the first patent for an annual calendar was allowed, to Patek Philippe, who launched the disadvantage in the reference 5035. Ironically, Patek’s unique layout was actually relatively intricate but just as with the calendar, the past couple of decades have contributed to progressively reduced parts counts, and Rolex’s yearly calendar mechanism demanded the inclusion of only four wheels to the existing Rolex date mechanism.There is, arguably, a third complication in the Sky-Dweller: the Ring Command Bezel. The Ring Control Bezel was first introduced by Rolex from the Yachtmaster II — the other competitor for Most Complicated Rolex. The Yachtmaster II premiered by Rolex from 2007 and it’s a regatta timer. You can set the countdown for any interval from one to ten minutes, and if you want to re-synch your moments hand to the starter’s gun, you can do this by pushing the reset button while the chronograph is running. The seconds hand then flies back to zero and instantly starts running, while the minute hand flies back to the nearest minute. In the Yachtmaster II, the Ring Control Bezel has two positions: impartial, and an energetic position attained by turning the bezel 90º into the left. Turning the bezel into the active position links the crown to the countdown minute hand, allowing the user to plan the desired countdown length (more in our hands On from 2015 right here). Before we get to the Ring Control Bezel’s execution in the Sky-Dweller, let us look at how the time and date are read off. Ideally, an yearly calendar will offer some means of reading the month, which can be necessary when setting the watch in the event the annual calendar is to perform its thing correctly.

On the wrist, the impression created by the arresting visuals of this Sky-Dweller continues: they’re enormous, yes, but in my seven-inch wrist they were also quite comfortable to wear, as equally watches match closely and stayed based on the forearm with no noticeable play. The Everose model on a strap was a really comfortable watch to wear over the course of a week, dimensions and burden notwithstanding, and for long-term wear I think I would prefer it to the bracelet only from a mass perspective. However, if you’re the type of person who wishes to wear this watch on a matching gold bracelet you are also likely the sort of person who’s not going to be discouraged by some (well, a lot of) extra grams of gold. It is an annual calendar, dual time-zone watch where all indications can be set from the (screw-down) crown. The unique characteristic of the Sky-Dweller is that the “Ring Control” rotating bezel, whose place determines the operation of the crown. The crown has 2 positions; unscrew it and pull it out into the first, and it can be used to hand-wind the movement (Rolex caliber 9001).

The latter is a characteristic of “authentic” GMT watches, as is the fact that the hour is put in the crown and may be re-set to a new timezone without quitting the whole watch. There are simpler dual time zone watchesthat have a 24 hour hand that can be individually set, but to use them as a traveler’s view — which is, to display local time with the hour and minute hands, and home time together with the 24 hour — generally requires quite a little more fiddling with the crown and also involves stopping the eye whilst re-setting the hour and second hands, thus requiring the consumer to also re-set to a time standard.The annual calendar is the next complication located at the Sky-Dweller, and is also relatively straightforward. The Gregorian calendar has days of varying length — some months have 31 days, and many others have just 30. Most importantly, February is the oddest man out, and depending on whether or not it’s a Leap Year, can be either 28 or 29 days in length (29 in a Leap Year). Therefore a perpetual calendar never needs to have the date adjusted manually. An annual calendar, on the other hand, “understands” (so to speak) if it is a 30 or 31 day month but it doesn’t understand to leap into March 1 on February 28th or 29th. Thus, an yearly calendar ought to get the date manually re-set once a year. Needless to say, a typical calendar watch should have the date advanced manually five times per year — once for every 30 day month, and after at the end of February.The yearly calendar has some substantial benefits over the perpetual, even though some of these have been eroded in the past couple of decades by advances in perpetual calendar design.

Details

Basic Info

Brand

Rolex

Model

Sky-Dweller

Ref. No.

326934

Chrono24-ID

4kequ9

Code

1856

Case material

Steel

Year

2018

Condition

0 (unworn)

New

With box

Location

United States of America, California, Huntington Beach

Price

$17,895

Availability

Available now

Case

Case material

Steel

Case diameter

42 mm

Dial

Black

Dial numerals

No numerals

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Description

Warranty Authorized Dealer Stamped – Open Buyer Name – Dated January 2018
**Please Note** The serial numbers have been blurred in the photos, for security & privacy. However, they are fully present.